Developers return with options at 2300 W. Ainslie

Developer CKG Realty Group has come back to the community with two options for the development site at 2300 W. Ainslie. Currently home to the St. Matthias Rectory, the property sits at the northwest corner of W. Ainslie St and N. Oakley Ave.

Rejected by the community, the developer’s prior proposal sought to convert the rectory into 9 apartments and build a new 8-unit building on the east side of the property. Looking forward, the developer has come to the table with two new options. 

Presenting the first option, the developer would convert the rectory to apartments and build new townhomes along N. Oakley Ave. Planned as five townhomes, four of them would have four bedrooms and the final one would have three bedrooms. Rising three floors, the townhomes have been designed with Prairie Style architecture. 

With this scheme requesting a rezoning from RS-3 to RM-4, the project would include 3 affordable units and open community green space. The developers reduced the building size and unit count by 40%, increased green space, and redesigned the building in response to feedback that the previous design was “unattractive and inconsistent with the neighborhood.”

If the community were to reject that zoning change, the developers would resort to pursuing an as-of right development. To make that work, they would demolish the rectory and build five new single-family homes. Set to cost in the mid-million dollar range, this version of the project would have no community green space, no affordable units, and would result in the loss of the rectory. 

With the proposal presented to the community, the developers are awaiting a decision from Alderman Vasquez before knowing whether they can proceed to the City Council for rezoning the site. A timeline for construction is unknown.